Chris Cuomo gets fired by CNN after aiding his brother
CNN fires Chris Cuomo after an internal investigation revealed that he used media contacts to assist his brother, former NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
USA TODAY, Wochit
Chris Cuomo returns to TV Tuesday night.
CNN’s former marquee host was ousted in December for aiding his brother Andrew Cuomo as the former Governor of New York faced allegations of sexual harassment. In an appearance on NewsNation’s “Dan Abrams Live” scheduled for Tuesday night, Cuomo, 51, discussed the circumstances surrounding his firing.
According to dozens of transcripts, video interviews and text messages released by the New York Attorney General’s Office, Chris Cuomo used his media “sources” and “other journalists” to look into the women who accused his brother, then governor, of sexual harassment.
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While Cuomo admitted on air in May 2021 that he helped his brother, calling it a mistake, records revealed he also texted with the governor’s top aides and advisers, seeking information from other journalists about planned coverage of the governor.
But in Tuesday’s interview, Cuomo denied reaching out to “any media who were covering my brother to try to affect their coverage. I talk to people in the media all the time. They’re most of the people in my life.”
“But you said ‘I never made calls to the press about my brother’s situation,'” Abrams responded. “You did make calls to the press about your brother’s situation.”
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Cuomo replied: “But I think the distinction has a meaningful difference. The concern would be not that I called you and said, ‘What do you think’s going on here?’ It’s me calling you and saying, ‘Hey, tonight in your segment, I hope you remember that.'”
Cuomo said he doesn’t “feel sorry for myself” or view himself as a victim. He also said he harbors no anger toward his brother over the scandal.
“I love my brother,” he told Abrams. “The rule in my family is very simple: Family, trouble, go. Other people have the luxury of judging allegations and situations. For me, it was about helping my brother in a hard way and doing it in a way I didn’t think compromised what matters. And that’s what guided me.”
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Last December, CNN posted to Twitter that Cuomo, who had been suspended, was fired “effective immediately,” following a review of his conduct by a law firm. Cuomo called the decision “disappointing” in his own Twitter statement. “This is not how I want my time at CNN to end but I have already told you why and how I helped my brother,” he wrote.
In March, Cuomo filed a $125 million arbitration claim against his former network, alleging his firing was unjustified and has “damaged” his professional reputation. The newsman, who also hosted the SiriusXM show “Let’s Get After It” until December, launched a podcast, “The Chris Cuomo Project” on Thursday.
The “Cuomo Prime Time” anchor had been with CNN for eight years, first getting his start with the network’s “New Day with Alisyn Camerota” in 2013. He later hosted “Cuomo Prime Time” at 9 p.m. EDT, becoming the network’s top-rated anchor.
Contributing: Elise Brisco, Edward Segarra, Cydney Henderson, Hannah Yasharoff and Pamela Avila, USA TODAY; Joseph Spector, Democrat and Chronicle; The Associated Press
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